KUCHING: Sarawak has set up a Medical Tourism Coordination Committee (MHTC) to facilitate the entry of medical visitors in the first quarter of next year.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the committee would collaborate with hospitals, relevant authorities and Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) to boost the medical tourism industry in the state.
“MHTC will roll out the eVisa to facilitate entry of medical visitors,” he said when winding up his ministry‘s debate on the Supply 2019 Bill at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting here yesterday.
He said the medical tourism sector has been expanding and contributing to the economy of the state, which recorded 33,400 medical visitor arrivals generating RM42.4 million in receipts up to September this year.
In 2017, Sarawak recorded 44,700 foreign patients who sought treatment for medical treatment and brought in receipts of RM60.7 million.
Karim noted that the medical tourism gave lucrative opportunities to the local private hospitals and medical professionals while also benefiting the tourism industry.
On another matter, he said that his ministry had planned for 16 capacity building sessions for tourism industry players such as tourist guides, front-liners, food operators, taxi drivers, event organisers and the local community.
Types of training provided include Safety and Life Saving Training, Service Excellence Training, Event Management Training and Service Delivery Training.
“To date, 14 sessions have been completed with the Sarawak Forestry Corporation and UiTM Sarawak in organising the Mandarin Speaking Park-Guide Training Course in Kuching and Miri in September and October respectively with 44 participants graduating from the park guiding course,” he said.
He encouraged the rural community to participate actively in the tourism industry through the Community Based Ecotourism (CBET) programme.
Karim said tourism awareness programmes have been organised for the local communities in which they were informed of the benefits of tourism industry and the nature of tourism activities.
“My ministry has also carried out community development programmes for homestay operators and community through courses such as Homestay Product Marketing Workshop through Digital Media, Craft-Making Workshop and Cultural Workshop for Homestay participants.
“The objectives of such courses are to increase their knowledge in how to promote their homestays through the digital media and to value and preserve their cultural heritage so that the knowledge and skills can be passed from one generation to the next,” he said.
As of September 2018, a total of 24,220 tourists visited the homestays with the total receipts of RM2.83 million.
